BMX star Dave Mirra dies aged 41 after apparent suicide

[Gambit]

 

Police in North Carolina say one of the most celebrated names in X Games, Dave Mirra, has died in North Carolina at the age of 41.

Greenville police confirmed on Thursday night that Mirra’s body had been found earlier in the day. Authorities responded to reports of an apparent suicide and discovered Mirra’s body in a truck.

“We mourn the loss today of a great friend and wonderful human being who touched the lives of so many around the world with his gift. He called Greenville, North Carolina home and was as humble a guy talking with kids on a street corner about bikes as he was in his element on the world stage. A young life with so much to offer was taken too soon,” said the Greenville mayor, Allen Thomas.

Mirra was a brilliant BMX rider and won 14 gold medals at X Games, despite the fact that his career was nearly ended in 1993 after he was hit by a drunk driver. But Mirra recovered and he won X Games honors at an astonishing rate between 1995 and 2008, his record of 24 medals over a career was only broken in 2013 by Bob Burnquist.

He was also a rally driver and competed in ironman and triathlons. “Ironman competitions are an entirely different ballgame. The level of competition is much higher, and there are way more athletes,” Mirra told Sports Illustrated.

Mirra was married with two daughters.

ESPN, the broadcaster of X Games, released a statement paying tribute to Mirra. “Dave Mirra, your courage, determination and natural skill in everything you pursued pushed the world of action sports to become a better place. From all of us at X Games and ESPN, we salute your contributions,” read the statement. “Our sincere condolences go out to Dave’s wife, Lauren, his daughters Mackenzie and Madison, the BMX community and friends of Dave Mirra.”

Mirra’s friend and fellow BMX rider TJ Lavin expressed his sorrow at the news. “I just wish he would have called me,” he told TMZ. “I would have jumped on a plane in a second. There’s always another way. If anyone needs help, just please get it. I feel sick about this.”

[aucky]

Rip dave

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[stants]

Used to watch the props video's back in the day ! Shame

[Jay762]

A great loss - Heart goes out to his family

[Gambit]

Depression seems to be one of the worst things for men. Shows you though you can have it all but if you suffer with depression it's a dangerous trap. 

[dgarside]

Couldn't agree more Gambit, speaking from personal experience [emoji6] not something men tend to want to talk about. Hopefully this gets better very soon and we see less men (& women) lose their life to such a fatal illness. RIP Dave.

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[Gambit]

I think what makes it worse for the people they leave behind the helplessness. I've always tried to be there for people I know, I've been at a very low point myself as I'm sure we all have. A friend of mine I've known all my life close family friend right back to my grandmother anyway. But his missus died someone I went to school with of cancer just aged 31. He hit rock bottom I spent a lot of time with him after. Her dad didn't make his life easy by any means either, but long story. But many nights of drinking followed, I got sick of the amount we was drinking. But he would wake up drinking vodka straight from a bottle he was that low. Started talking about doing himself in. Lost his business ended up moving in with his mum story goes on. But many more times of drinking, He actually turned round to me and thanked me. He actually said if it hadn't been for me he would have done himself in leaving his daughter who was 8  at the time, I sort of felt proud but realised I was learning to cope with my own grief to. Strangely I've never spoken about this until now. But I do hope that I say men but appreciate women may feel the same but less than men, start to find it easier to talk about. I Know for many weeks when I was low though not to do with money or anything just a build up of everything, just hated life the loneliness that follows is one hell of a dark place I wouldn't want to return to.